Barack Obama's Speech on Race Got an Uncritical Welcome From Some Surprising Folks

Now some fresh pickings from the Political Grapevine:

Rave Reviews

Barack Obama's speech on race yesterday played to rave reviews in much of the national media.

On NBC, the Washington Post's Jonathan Capehart said the address was, "a very important gift the senator has given the country."

NBC's own Chris Matthews said it was, “worthy of Abraham Lincoln" and "the best speech ever given on race in this country."

ABC's George Stephanopoulos said Obama's refusal to renounce his highly controversial pastor was, quote, "in many ways an act of honor."

And on CNN, Campbell Brown called the speech "striking" and "daring," asserting that Obama had, "walked the listener through a remarkable exploration of race from both sides of the color divide, from both sides of himself."

Keep it Coming?

If you're wondering why the rocket attacks from Palestinians in Gaza into Israel have not stopped for a day since Israel pulled out, the answer appears to be that the Palestinians like the attacks and don't like the peace talks.

A new poll by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research found 64 percent of Palestinians support the rocket attacks and 84 percent back the March 6 attack on that Israeli religious center.

The pollster said it was highest support for an act of violence in 15 years of surveys.

As for the peace talks, 75 percent said they should be terminated.

Silver Lining

And speaking of opinion surveys, some private polling data has reportedly put a smile on faces at the White House these days.

U.S. News says a survey by Ed Goeas of the Tarrance Group has found that 56 percent of likely voters approve of the president personally, though his job approval rating remains low.

The poll found large majority support for his economic stimulus package, and of his plan to help people with mortgage troubles.

What's more the survey found 70 percent approval for his plan to allow eavesdropping on foreign terrorists and 52 percent approve of the troop surge in Iraq.

Controversy Continues

And the controversy continues over whether Hillary Clinton, as she said again this week, had to duck sniper fire while arriving in Bosnia back in 1996.

The comedian Sinbad, who was with her, has ridiculed the idea, but the Clinton camp has said he was just being funny.

Now, though, the Media Research Center has scanned the coverage at the time by reporters who were on the trip, and found no mention of any shooting.

The CBS report even showed her arriving in Bosnia smiling and walking alongside daughter Chelsea. Sen. Clinton had claimed there was no greeting ceremony and, "we just ran with our heads down."

But the network pictures showed her being greeted by the acting president of Bosnia and a group of Bosnian children.

— FOX News Channel's Martin Hill contributed to this report.